Life in Ancient Egypt

Chapter 5, Lesson 2

Essential Question: What makes culture unique?

Activity

Religion in Egypt

Egyptians worshipped gods and goddesses.

The chief god was Amon, the god of Thebes. He was later merged with the god of the sun, Ra, to become Amon-Ra.

Osiris, the god of the dead, and Isis, his sister/wife and goddess of nature, were also important.

The Afterlife

Life after death even better than the present life.

Book of the Death—prayers and magic spells to prepare for the afterlife

Earliest Egyptians believed only the pharaoh could enjoy the afterlife, but later on Egyptians came to believe that the afterlife was possible for all people.

Mummification Believed that the

pharaoh’s soul resided in his body, that is why it was preserved.

• Dead bodies embalmed so people would have their bodies in afterlife.

Embalm—to preserve a body after death

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/worldhistory/mummies/

Activity: Religion in Ancient Egypt

Read “Religion in Ancient Egypt” pg. 110 to 112

What did the ancient Egyptians think the afterlife would be like? 

Who was allowed to reach the afterlife? 

Activity Two: The Afterlife Ancient Egyptians' belief in the afterlife influenced all areas of their lives.

Make a connection between Egyptians' belief in the afterlife and the area you were assigned. (5-6 sentences)

If you were a scientist or a doctor, how might your belief in the afterlife affect your work? 

If you were an Egyptian priest, how might your belief in the afterlife affect your work? 

If you were an ordinary worker, how might your belief in the afterlife affect you? 

Pyramids

• First rulers were buried in underground tombs, topped with bricks

• Later replaced bricks with small pyramid • King Djoser built larger pyramid over his tomb

around 2630 B.C. Step pyramid—sides rise in series of big step -

oldest-known large stone structure in world

• 80 years later, pharaoh Khufu wanted to show world his greatness—ordered construction of largest pyramid ever, with 760-foot sides

• Farmers worked during Nile's flood season, others worked all year

• Took an estimated 20,000 people almost 20 years to build - city of Giza was built for workers

The Pyramid of Meydum The Bent Pyramid

The Great Pyramids of GizaThe Great Pyramids of Giza

IV. Social Order

Supreme Ruler, considered divine by the people; lived in palace; buried in pyramids

Priest, nobles and army commanders. Lived in elegant homes; wore fashionable clothes; had servants

Scribes (people who write on books), merchants; traders; business owners, and artisans who made clothes, jewelry, metal goods. Lived in small homes; and wore simple dress.

Worked on land owned by the wealthy; lived in houses of mud bricks; limited diet; herders who tended sheep or goats. Could improve their lives if wanted to.

Manual laborer; lived in crowed cities and mud brick houses; could improve their lives.

Priests.Besides serving the gods, priests did many other jobs, such as teaching, or even helping with the harvest. Priests had to be pure and clean. They shaved their heads and bodies and washed four times a day.

This statue of a priest has a bald

head, a fake beard and he is in

the praying position

Nobles

Noble on a hunting trip

with his family

Noblemen held high office in Ancient Egypt and helped the Pharaoh to rule the country (bureaucrats)

The Pharaoh would often reward loyal nobles with gifts of land.

Nobles were rich and could enjoy themselves hunting and having banquets.

Scribes

What is a Scribe?Scribes were the few Egyptians who knew how to read and write. A scribe's job was highly regarded in Ancient Egypt. Although being a scribe was rewarding, the training could take as long as twelve years.

A peasant making papyrus

Scribes were very

wise

This statue of a Scribe

was found in his tomb

Craftsmen (Artisans)

Egyptian craftsmen were highly skilled.

They learned their trade from their fathers and, in turn, taught their sons.

They used simple techniques and tools to make all sorts of useful things. The Pharaoh, government or temples often employed them.

Craftsmen carving

statues and ornamentsCarpent

ers using a bow drill

Metal workers making precious objects

Peasants

The most important business in Egypt was farming.Most of the people who worked in the fields and barns were peasants. During the flood season when no farming could be done the peasants did building work on temples and palaces.

Peasants herding cattle for the

Pharaoh

Peasants preparing food for a banquet

Activity

Choose a member of Egyptian society, such as a pharaoh, farmer, priest, or merchant.

Write a two paragraph diary entry that describes a day in that person's life.

Write from the point of view of the person they have chosen, using "I," and to include details from the chapter about the person's social class.

Make sure to include the advantages and disadvantages of your social group.